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Background 3-Dimensional Echocardiography allows measuring volumes and parameters of myocardial deformation (strain). Myocardial strain has been suggested to be superior to conventional echo parameters in the assessment of right ventricular (RV) function. Myocardial strain can be assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) or two- and three-dimensional echocardiography (2D and 3DEcho). We performed a comprehensive assessment of the RV based on 3DEcho and compared the results with those based on CMR and 2DEcho. Methods 36 patients with corrected heart defects underwent CMR and 3DEcho to assess RV volume, strain and cardio pulmonary exercise testing with peak VO2 measurement. 2DEcho was used for reference. Results There was a moderate correlation between 3DEcho and CMR for measuring RV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (r = .82 and .72). 3DEcho tended to underestimate the RV volumes, mean difference EDV 8.5 +/- 33 ml (CI -2.8; 19.7 ml) and ESV 13.2 +/- 29 ml (CI 3.3; 23 ml). According to method-specific reference values for RVEDV, 34/35 (3DEcho) and 29/36 (CMR) were dilated. Among those dilated according to CMR, all were identified by 3DEcho. The coefficient of correlation between RV atrioventricular plane displacement measured by CMR and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion measured by 3D and 2DEcho was r = .6 for both. 2DEcho measured lower LV volumes than CMR. LVEF and GLS were similar in 2DEcho, 3DEcho and CMR. Patients with CMR-determined RV free wall strain <= -14% tended to have lower peak VO2. Conclusions Although 3DEcho underestimated RV volumes, it successfully identified all patients with RV dilatation based on method-specific reference values., Funding Agencies|ALF Grants Region Ostergotland [LIO-349771, LIO-798171]

Background Prior studies suggested that myocardial deformation is superior to conventional measures for assessing ventricular function. This study aimed to evaluate right ventricular (RV) myocardial deformation in response to increased afterload. Patients with the RV in the systemic position were compared with patients with the RV in the sub-pulmonic position with normal or only slightly elevated systolic right ventricular pressure. Correlations between global longitudinal strain (GLS), radial strain, atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD), and exercise capacity were evaluated. Methods 44 patients with congenital heart defect were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of seven healthy volunteers. All patients underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. We assessed biventricular myocardial function using CMR based feature tracking and compared the results to anatomic volumes. Results Strain analysis and displacement measurements were feasible in all participants. RVGLS and RVAVPD were reduced in both study groups compared to the control group (p<0.001). Left ventricular (LV) radial strain was significantly lower in patients with a systemic RV than in those with a subpulmonic RV and lower than in controls (p<0.001). Both LVAVPD and RVAVPD were significantly depressed in patients compared to controls (p<0.05). RVAVPD was more depressed in patients with a high systolic RV pressure than in those with normal RV pressure (p<0.001). RVAVPD did not correlate with exercise capacity in either study group. Exercise capacity in both patient groups was depressed to levels reported in previous studies, and did not correlate with RVGLS. Conclusions Both study groups had abnormal myocardial deformation and increased RV volumes. RVGLS in patients was lower than in controls, confirming the effect of increased afterload on myocardial performance., Funding Agencies|ALF Grant, Region Ostergotland [LIO-281281]

Heart valve dysfunction is a relatively common condition in the population, whereas significant heart valve disease is more unusual. The cause of different types of heart valve disease depends on which valve is concerned. Rheumatic heart valve disease, has for a long time been considered to constitute a post-inflammatory condition. During the 1990s it was also shown that the so-called non-rheumatic or degenerative tricuspid aortic stenosis, comprised signs of inflammation. In this study, 118 patients (the VOCIN study group) referred to the University Hospital for preoperative investigation due to significant heart valve disease, were examined regarding signs of inflammation. Twenty-nine aortic valves from patients with significant aortic stenosis were divided into tricuspid and bicuspid aortic valves. The bicuspid aortic stenotic valves revealed signs of inflammation to a similar extent as the tricuspid valves. However, the tricuspid and bicuspid valves differed regarding distribution of calcification. In contrast, inflammation was not a predominant feature in 15 aortic and mitral valves from patients with significant heart valve regurgitation. Gross valvular pathology consistent with rheumatic aortic stenosis was found in 10 patients. These valves revealed a somewhat lower degree of inflammatory cell infiltration, but on the whole, there were no substantial differences when compared to non-rheumatic aortic stenotic valves. They did, however, reveal a similar distribution of calcification as the bicuspid, non-rheumatic aortic valves. The VOCIN study group was compared to an age- and gender matched control group with regard to history and signs of rheumatic disease. There was not any increased prevalence of clinical manifestations of non-cardiac inflammatory disease in patients with significant heart valve disease, when compared to healthy control subjects. However, patients with heart valve disease had significantly increased serum levels of inflammatory markers com

Background: Nonrheumatic aortic stenosis is the predominant cause of heart valve surgery in the Western world. Aortic and mitral regurgitation account for a lesser amount of the heart valve surgery. During the 1990s, inflammatory cell infiltrates have been demonstrated in nonrheumatic stenotic aortic valves. These findings suggest an inflammatory component in the pathogenesis of nonrheumatic aortic valve stenosis. However, nonrheumatic regurgitant aortic and mitral valves have not been investigated in this respect. The aim of this study was to compare nonrheumatic regurgitant aortic and mitral valves with stenotic aortic valves regarding the presence of T lymphocytes, macrophages, apolipoprotein B, and apolipoprotein A-I. Methods: Valve specimens were obtained from 42 patients referred to hospital for surgery because of significant heart valve disease. From these patients, 29 aortic stenotic valves, 9 aortic regurgitant, and 6 mitral regurgitant valves, all nonrheumatic, were obtained for the study. Fourteen valves collected from subjects undergoing clinical/medicolegal autopsy were used as control. In order to identify mononuclear inflammatory cells and apolipoproteins, sections were investigated with immunohistochemical analyses and then categorized semiquantitatively. Results: Regurgitant and control valves showed a significantly lower degree of inflammatory cell infiltrate and a lower degree of apolipoprotein deposition as compared to stenotic aortic valves. Conclusions: The signs of inflammation seen in nonrheumatic aortic stenosis are not prominent features in the nonrheumatic, regurgitant valves. This is consistent with the multi-factorial pathogenesis of these conditions.

Background: The two most common causes of aortic stenosis are primary "degenerative" calcification of tricuspid aortic valves and secondary calcification of congenital bicuspid valves. T lymphocyte infiltration occurs in stenotic tricuspid aortic valves, indicating an inflammatory component, but it has not been shown whether it also occurs in stenotic bicuspid valves. Objective: To compare non-rheumatic tricuspid and bicuspid stenotic aortic valves for the presence and distribution of T lymphocytes. Setting: University hospital. Patients and design: Valve specimens were obtained from 29 patients (15 women, 14 men, mean age 69 years (range 52–81 years)), referred to the hospital for aortic valve replacement because of symptomatic aortic valve stenosis. There were 17 tricuspid valves (from 10 women and seven men, mean age 71 years) and 12 bicuspid valves (from five women and seven men, mean age 67 years). To identify mononuclear inflammatory cells, sections were stained with antibodies for CD3 (pan-T cell antigen, Dako 1:400) and then graded histologically according to the degree of T cell infiltrate. Results: T lymphocyte infiltration was present in both tricuspid and bicuspid stenotic aortic valves, without any significant differences in extent or localisation. Conclusions: Stenotic bicuspid aortic valves show the same degree of T lymphocyte infiltration as degenerative tricuspid aortic valves. Inflammation needs to be considered in the pathogenesis of acquired aortic stenosis, irrespective of the primary valve anomaly.